Bengaluru: Days after BJP led by Party President B S Yeddyurappa charged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of paying alleged kickbacks, the Congress on Saturday cited another diary found during I-T raid on former MLC Lehar Singh’s house in 2013, where BSY is alleged to have received Rs 69 Crore.
Addressing a press meet, KPCC Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “An I-T raid on MLC Lehar Singh’s house in 2013 revealed a diary which has many initials and money paid against their names. Who are KSE, NAMO, BSY mentioned in the dairy? The BJP needs to explain. The diary is said to have contained details of alleged money deals. Details found in Lehar Singh’s diary have been revealed on social media. There is also entry about making a payment of Rs 391 Crore to BJP High Command. Can BJP leaders answer to these findings in Singh’s dairy?”, he asked.
He further said, “Releasing diary which they claim was found in Govindaraju’s home is politicial conspiracy. There was reference in Singh’s diary about Rs 69 Crore payment to BSY. Lehar Singh had denied what was written in the dairy. If Lehar Singh’s word can be trusted, why not Govindaraju’s? I-T department is not supposed to leak any info, then how BSY got it?Jaitley should answer. I-T department cannot be trusted anymore. They are being manipulated by the union government. Confidential details of I-T department is available with all and sundry now”, he ridiculed.
The controversy began after BSY targeted the CM for allegedly giving Rs 1,000 Crore to Congress High Command to remain in power. BSY had alleged that the same was mentioned in a diary of Siddaramaiah’s close aide Govindaraju. He had also accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of receiving kickbacks of upto Rs 65 Crore in the steel flyover project. However, Congress countered BJP by releasing a CD. In the conversation recorded, BSY and union minister Ananth Kumar were discussing a conspiracy at a BJP Executive Meet in Bengaluru on February 12. The issue is escalating day by bay with both the parties targeting each other ahead of state elections to grab power.
